“You’re one of SH’s top directors. Every project you touch is a hit. Please… help me, just this once.”
The director’s gaze darkened as it dropped to her hand gripping his arm.
A slow, greasy smile spread across his face.
“Sadie… you know I’ve always had a soft spot for you.” His voice lowered. “If you’re willing to… cooperate… I can make this happen.”
As he spoke, his fingers slid over hers.
Revulsion hit her instantly.
The feel of his clammy touch made her stomach twist.
But then –
She thought of the bet.
There was no way she was going to kneel outside and slap herself a hundred times.
So she swallowed it.
“Director… I do like you, but… I’m getting married tomorrow. I can’t be your girlfriend…”
“I don’t need that,” he cut in, eyes glinting. “Just once. Say yes, and I’ll take care of everything. That role is yours.”
Sadie hesitated, her thoughts spiraling.
“I…”
Before she could finish, his expression turned colder.
“And just so you’re clear… this isn’t only about the lead role. You’re not approved for anything. Not second lead, not supporting – nothing. They don’t want you in this production at all.”
“What?!” Her face drained of color.
Now the panic hit for real.
She had offended someone powerful at SH Entertainment.
If she didn’t fix this, it wouldn’t just cost her this project – it could end her career.
“Sadie, relax,” the director said smoothly. “This stays between us. No one will ever know. The Whitmore family won’t hear a thing. And if you agree… I’ll do everything I can to fix this.”
Her mind spun.
She couldn’t lose to Scarlett.
She couldn’t get blacklisted.
After a long, suffocating silence, she clenched her jaw.
“…Fine.”
The moment the word left her lips, the director shoved her onto the long table.
Pain.
Humiliation.
She endured all of it.
And the entire time, she cursed Scarlett over and over in her head.
This had to be her doing.
Ever since Scarlett got out of prison, nothing had gone right.
She’s a curse.
‘Just wait.’
‘Tomorrow – at the wedding – I’ll make sure you humiliate yourself in front of everyone.’
Executive conference room.
The meeting was halfway through when Howard knocked and stepped inside, leaning down to whisper in Scarlett’s ear.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
Even she hadn’t expected Sadie to go that far – trading herself just to secure the role.
“Boss, I cleared that section of the building,” Howard murmured, barely hiding his excitement. “They think the cameras are off. I’ll send you the footage later – you can use it tomorrow.”
“Nice work.”
Scarlett had already gathered enough evidence from the past – proof that Sadie had framed her.
That alone could ruin her.
And now?
Sadie had just handed her something even better.
Some people never know when to stop.
They just keep digging.
A cough broke the silence.
The pot-bellied man across the table cleared his throat.
“Ms. Hayes… are we continuing this meeting or not?”
This was Yohan – general manager of SH Entertainment.
The seat Scarlett was sitting in had always been his.
And he didn’t like that one bit.
Not him.
Not the rest of the executives either.
To them, she was just a young outsider – and none of them appreciated being told what to do by someone like her.
Scarlett had already noticed the resistance.
It was expected.
These men had been in power for years – experienced, calculating, used to being the ones in control.
Now suddenly, someone new had stepped in above them?
Of course they weren’t happy.
That was exactly why she hadn’t told Louie about this yet.
Not until she’d broken their pride and brought them fully in line.
Only then would she feel comfortable handing the company over to him.
Howard stood behind her, watching the tension at the table without concern.
His boss had commanded armies.
With a single order, thousands would move.
Compared to that?
This was nothing.
Scarlett’s gaze shifted to Yohan.
“You seem to have a problem with me.”
Yohan smiled thinly.
“Chairwoman Hayes, you misunderstand. I don’t have a problem with you. But today’s meeting is critical – it involves a five-hundred-million-dollar deal. There’s no room for distraction. And yet… you don’t seem particularly focused.”
He paused, then added bluntly,
“If you have personal matters to attend to, you’re free to leave. We can handle this without you.”
The jab was obvious.
Someone else her age might have snapped.
Scarlett didn’t.
She simply continued flipping through the documents in her hand, her expression calm – almost detached.
No reaction.
No irritation.
Yohan frowned.
That wasn’t what he expected.
If anything… she seemed completely unfazed.
This girl… isn’t simple.
Scarlett finished reviewing the file at a pace that felt almost unnatural, then looked up.
“This project has been in negotiation for twenty-five days,” she said coolly. “And you still haven’t made real progress?”
Yohan’s expression stiffened.
Was she questioning his ability?
“Chairwoman Hayes, you don’t understand,” he replied, a trace of pride creeping into his voice. “The delay isn’t due to inefficiency. This project requires approval from the Land Bureau. And since the site is near a military zone, we also need clearance from the defense authorities before construction can begin.”
He lifted his chin slightly.
“These processes take time. Reaching this stage in just twenty-five days is already impressive. Any other company would need at least a year.”
Scarlett didn’t respond to the explanation.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.